See more objects with the tag domestic, women, curved, tool, tapered, sharp, sewing, making, pointed.

See more objects with the color darkkhaki wheat peru or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

-0001

1914

  • Work on this object began.

2014

2024

  • You found it!

Awls (USA)

This is a Awls.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from National Museum of the American Indian as part of Tools: Extending Our Reach.

It is dated Created before 1914. Its medium is carved ivory.

Awls came in a variety of sizes, suitable to the different thicknesses of the materials to be sewn. These small, shapely ivory points would have been used to perforate thinner skins or gut. Women of the Iñupiaq indigenous community of Alaska had to learn to sew from a young age using strips of hide, sinew and fiber that were threaded or tied to the awl.

It is credited National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, 3/6271.

  • Woman’s Workbox With Lid (USA)
  • carved wood, walrus-ivory inlay.
  • Collection of Edward W. Nelson, 1879, Gift of Edward W. Nelson, Department of....
  • 15.2012.55
  • Awl And Cord (USA)
  • carved and perforated bone, hide cord.
  • National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, 4/8457.
  • 17.2012.4
  • Needle Case (USA)
  • carved, incised, painted wood; incised tundra swan wing bone (humerus).
  • National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, 21/800.
  • 17.2012.3

Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Sampler (USA)
  • silk embroidery on linen foundation.
  • Bequest of Mrs. Henry E. Coe.
  • 1941-69-4
  • Sampler (USA)
  • cotton and silk embroidery on cotton foundation.
  • Bequest of Mrs. Henry E. Coe.
  • 1941-69-153

Its dimensions are

L x W (Longest): 7.3 x 0.5 cm (2 7/8 x 3/16 in.) L x W (Shortest): 5 x 0.6 cm (1 15/16 x 1/4 in.) L x W (Most decorative): 6.4 x 0.6 cm (2 1/2 x 1/4 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Tools: Extending Our Reach.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35457321/ |title=Awls (USA) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=23 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>